Toy theater



E. S. MOORE.

TOY THEATER.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 1.1919.

1,396,046. Y Patented Nov. 8, 1921.

Z0 l T T T E. S. MOORE.

TOY THEATER.

APPLICATION FILED FEB-1| 1919.

Patented Nov. 8 1921.

3 2 SHEETS-SHED 2- E. 5. Moore EDWARD S. MOORE, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

roY THEATER.

Application filed February 1, 1919.

To all whom it may concern Beit known that I, EDWARD S. Moonn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Toy Theaters, of which the following is av specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in toys, and pertains more particularly to a mlniature theater.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a miniature theater which will be comparatively cheap in manufacture.

A further object of the invention is to pro vide a miniature theater in which a. plurality of images in imitation of well known characters may be employed.

A further object of the invention is to provide means by which the images may be moved about the stage at the will of the operator.

A further object of the invention is to provide a plurality of different settings for the stage of the miniature theater, as well as a plurality of difi erent images, in order that anyone of the well known childrens stories may be enacted by images in imitation of the several characters thereof.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which is capable of being knocked down and stored in a space of relatively small dimensions.

Referring to the drawings Figurel is a view in elevation of the device with the stage set.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view.

Fig. 3 is a detail view of thestage' platform.

Fig. 4 is a sectional View showing the method of operation.

Fig. 5 is a detail view of one of the images.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of one of the scenic settings, and

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the magnet.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the reference character 10 designates the base or stage of the theater and it w1ll be noticed that this base is in the form of a hollow member having one of its edge walls removed to provide an open side 11 the purpose of which will be hereinafter set forth.

This base 10 is preferably constructed of cardboard and comprises an upper wall 12, a lower wall 13 and edge walls 1 1'. The exposed surfaces of this base may be finished Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 8, 1921.

Serial No. 274,576.

as desired, the preferred manner being in imitation of any of theknown woods.

. An arch member 15 is employed which is adapted to give the device the appearance of a theater, and said arch 15 is provided with a vertically extending portion or wall 16 which projects upwardly a suflicient distance to obscure the rear of the stage from the view of the spectators positioned in front thereof. Extending rearwardly from the opposite sides of the arch are wings 17 which are adapted to form the sides of the stage. These wings 17 are hingedly secured to the rear face of the arch by means of linen strips 18 in such a manner that they will fold against said rear face when the device is in its knocked down form. The upper edge of each of these rearwardly extending wings is notched at its point of juncture with the arch, and said notches are adapted to receive the cross member 19 from which the curtain 20 is suspended.

This curtain is preferably formed of paper in imitation of velvet, the upper edge of the curtain being glued or otherwise fastened to the transversely extending cross member 19 aforementioned.

As shown in Fig. 6, a suitable scenic setting is employed which consists of a strip of cardboard or the like 21 which is scored as at 22 to provide two folding wings 23. These wings are each provided with flaps 2 1 which are adapted when in position on the stage to provide the effect of stage wings commonly employed in stage settings in theaters. This cardboard member 21 may have any suitable scenery painted on its front face, this of course being determined by the different plays which it is desired to produce.

Referring to Fig. 5, the images are each formed with metallic clasp 31 which serves as the means for maintaining the figures in their upright position. The clasps 31 are in the form of ordinary or stock paper clips and the same are engaged with the flanged base portionsof the images as shown in Fig. 5. i

A permanent magnet 30 is employed which is of the ordinary horseshoe type, and Said magnet is adapted to be manipulated between the upper and the lower face of the stage 10 by means of the handle 32. As shown in Fig. 4 the magnet 30 extends at an angle to the handle 32 so as to permit the same to be operatively placed in contact with the upper wall 12 of the stage. The.

' angularity of the magnet and the fact that the handle 32 is a relatively long one, in which its manipulating end always extends outward of the open side of the stage enables the operator to freely manipulate the handle and cause the magnet to be extended to any part of the stage desired.

In operation, the stage is set up With the openedge 11 of the base or stage at the rear thereof. The several figures are positioned on the stage and the device is ready for the operation; When it is desired to move one.

of the figures or images across the stage, the magnet 30 is inserted between the upper and the lower face of the stage to a point directly under the figure to be moved. The magnet 30 exerts its influence through the top face of the stage and through the medium of the metal clip 31, on which each of the movable figures is mounted the figure will be caused to follow the magnet in its move- 'ment, and in thismanner, the figures or images may be moved at will over the stage,

thus producing the effect of the figures walking or moving as in an ordinary theater.

' From the foregoing, .it will be apparent that the present invention provides a very amusing toy which can at the same time, be

manufactured at a minimum cost.

What is claimed as new is V v V r A toy theater including a hollow stage having an opening in its back portion and formed of relatively superposed walls, objects movably supported upon one of said Walls and provided with flanged bases, stock metallic clasps engaged with said base EDWARDS. Moons. 

